Categories
Teaching

Imperfection

By Tamra Badgett
French Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School

Nelson Mandela said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”

Each year, I like to tell my beginner French students a story, one whose message applies specifically to them and one that proves true Mandela’s wise words. Let me share it with you.

While living in Toulouse, France, I had an experience that transformed my perspective on language learning. One day, I stood in the plaza gazing across at a bank of brick buildings. My GPS had falsely said that the electric company, which I desperately needed, should be exactly where my eyes now found nothing but apartments and store fronts. Helpless, I glanced around at the confident citizens of the town, intimidated at the idea of having to converse with one of them to solve my dilemma.

Although I spoke French, according to my bachelor’s degree, I didn’t. My type A personality had convinced me that I had no business speaking the language if I couldn’t do so with near perfection, so I listened, I read, I wrote, and I avoided speaking whenever possible.

Nearby in the plaza, an older gentlemen stood seemingly waiting for someone to join him. Of all the individuals hurrying this way and that, he looked the most friendly. Tap, tap. “Monsieur, je suis désolée mais pouvez-vous me donner de l’information?” The man looked at me kindly but motioned to his ear and shook his head. I began to repeat myself, more loudly this time. The gentleman stayed my gesturing hands with his own, smiled almost wistfully, and again shook his head. With hesitancy, I bent the fingers of my right hand into the word, “Aidez?” The gentleman’s countenance brightened and his eyes grew round. I had spoken in his own language–not French, but sign language. With my extremely basic ASL, I asked the man if he knew directions to the electric company. To match my basic finger spelling, he answered in simple terms and phrases.

What I learned that day, and the message I share with my beginner French students, is that “the basics” of a language are all that are needed to form a connection and to show compassion and respect for someone. I met the gentlemen in the plaza where he needed with my ASL and he met me where I needed with simple, slow French.

It is my belief that I don’t teach French at Lakehill just so my students can add another skill to their college resumes. No, I teach French so they are equipped with the means to live out our Lakehill mission which states that our students serve with compassion. Armed with just the basics, they can, in fact, form connections and help others in our ever more globalized and diverse society. Visit my beginner French class and you will surely overhear incorrectly conjugated verbs, franglais, anglicismes, and bizarre circumlocation. You will hear the students learning to connect with others, and I think that is a beautiful sound indeed.

Categories
Student Perspectives

The Right Balance

By Salma El-Feky, ’17
Marking Intern, Lakehill Preparatory School

Going into my senior year, I wanted to do everything I could possibly do and be involved in every activity. I wanted to make every minute of my senior year count.

Throughout the school year, my parents and I would sit down to discuss my schedule and what was going on that week. We also spent a lot of time talking about my future plans.

During those discussions, my parents gave me some good advice: “Be honest with yourself and find a balance between school, friends, and family.” This advice helped me change the way I approached my school work and my extracurricular activities. I realized that I can’t do every single thing, every single time. I prioritized my responsibilities and focused on those that were the most important. With my new focus, I could make a schedule and stick to it. I learned how to better manage my time. In the past, it was hard for me to admit when I needed help. By communicating more with my teachers, I gained confidence and certainty in completing my assignments. Most importantly, I feel better prepared for the future and for the college experience that is just ahead.

High school is definitely a challenge and can be overwhelming – if you let it be. While I wish I could go back and share this advice with the freshman version of myself, I am glad that I received it now and will carry it with me to college.

Enjoy every moment in high school, get involved, and be active–but remember to be honest with yourself and make sure you seek balance in your life. Schedule your school work, but remember to leave enough hours to get a good night’s sleep and enjoy some down time for yourself. This will keep you from becoming stressed and will allow time for you to enjoy the little moments and make memories.

While I was writing this, I received my first college acceptance letter! I am so grateful for my Lakehill experience and the environment that has allowed me to stay positive and focus on my goals. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Salma El-Feky

Categories
College Readiness

Taking a Risk

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

Earlier this fall, I unintentionally performed a social experiment.  A representative from the University of Southern California was coming to present on the university and I had nearly 50 students signed up for the lunchtime visit.  The best place to accommodate this number of students and their lunches was obviously the lunchroom.  So I instructed the students who signed up for the visit to sit on the right side of the cafeteria.  Easy, right?  Well, little did I know how attached students were to their tables and their groups of friends.  I even heard one student say, “I guess I’ll learn more about USC,” as he didn’t want to move from his place, and he hadn’t signed up for the visit.

Fast forward a few weeks later.  At our annual presentation to our freshman and parents of freshman, we had a student panel of seniors offering their advice on how to be successful.  One piece of advice that they offered was to try something new, don’t just follow friends.

So this is my advice to students reading this blog…there are so many opportunities out there.  Do not let something pass you by because you were afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School each has its unique set of activities and events.  College will offer you even more–some colleges have over 700 clubs and organizations!  And to parents reading this blog, encourage, but do not force your children to do something new.  Continue to offer new opportunities and be confident that something will click.

Life is too short to sit at the same lunch table every day.

lunch-room

Categories
Environmental Education

Aquatic Adventures

Lakehill Preparatory School biology students recently spent five days in Galveston, adding hands-on experience to their classroom lessons. Students visited the NOAA turtle research facility in Galveston where they raise loggerhead sea turtles to use in testing the turtle exclusion devices required in all shrimp and fish nets. They visited the salt marsh and captured dozens of fish and invertebrates to discover what kind of animals live in that habitat. They also learned about the value of the salt marsh to human society, including its role in controlling flood waters, holding the soil in place, and detoxifying the water of chemical run-off from farms and urban areas. Students were also able to understand how freshwater rivers mix with ocean water by measuring the salinity and water clarity.

 

Students were able to sample marine life in the deeper water of the Houston Shipping Channel using a trawl net similar to what shrimpers use to haul in their catch. They caught a variety of fishes as well as a few invertebrates. They then returned to the salt marsh for a 2.5-mile kayak tour through small channels of water, allowing them to get a close-up view into salt grass habitats far from human disturbance. Students gained a better appreciation for the detail of this habitat by painting a water-color portrait of the scenery. “I think it helped students understand that we need both a scientific understanding of the biome and a personal artistic connection with the habitat to create policies to help preserve it for future generations,” said Biology teacher and trip sponsor Jeremy Holman.

 

The group enjoyed a tour of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which houses one of the finest paleontology exhibits in the country. At Brazos Bend State Park, they hiked around the lakes that are home to a robust alligator population. They also participated in a space station simulation and had a star-gazing party hosted by professional astronomers at the George Observatory. In the simulation, students assumed roles in navigation, communication, engineering, geology, biology, life support, and medical to successfully land a probe on the surface of the moon. This team-building exercise is used by corporations throughout Houston, and Lakehill students solved every challenge in under an hour to complete the mission. Through the 36-inch domed telescopes, they were able to see Saturn and Mars, various star clusters, and several nebula (planet- or star-forming dust clouds) in deep space.

 

They ended their adventure with a visit to the Kemah Boardwalk, where they fed sardines to the stingrays in the aquarium and rode on the various amusement rides, including the famed Boardwalk Bullet wooden roller coaster.

biology-trip
Categories
College Readiness

Finding Blance

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

Since I am in the middle of the course selection process for next year and in the middle of AP testing, I have been thinking a lot about the structure of a high school student’s day. I find myself coming back to the word BALANCE.  Lakehill encourages students to explore their interests, both inside and outside of the classroom. We want our students to excel in their academic interests, but we also want them to explore new subject areas. Our students have two electives each semester for several reasons:  we want them to perform, create, look at texts in a new way, and explore non-traditional subjects.

As a college counselor, I am often asked, “What do colleges want to see?” But there is no magic formula. Colleges want students to follow a curriculum which challenges them, but is one in which they can be successful. They want to see that students can read, write, and think critically, creatively, and independently. Colleges want well-rounded students who are enjoying what they study and enjoy what they do in their “free time” so that they can contribute to their future campuses.

If a school offers AP classes or honors classes, students should be encouraged to take a class or two to further their knowledge and interest in a particular subject area, but only if it makes sense with the students’ learning profiles and other components of their lives. Students should not be tempted to choose an AP class because “it looks good on a high school transcript for colleges.” The same is true for activities and electives. Students should be encouraged to explore different activities and fields of interest, and to stick with those they like in order to develop their skills and leadership roles in those areas.

BALANCE is key to healthy, happy children. There are only 24 hours in the day, and 9.5 of those hours should be spent sleeping, so students should be encouraged to spend the other 14.5 hours in ways that will foster their personal and academic development in positive and healthy ways.

Heather Dondis

Categories
Student Perspectives

Finding Balance

By Afton Guedea,
Lakehill Preparatory School, Class of 2016

Balance. The one word that will keep you from drowning during your senior year of high school. I would know.

Going into my senior year, I wanted to make sure that I made every minute count and that I was involved as much as possible. Before the school year began, I sat down with my parents to discuss goals, calendars, and thoughts about the upcoming year. During that conversation, I received a piece of advice that would save me: “Be balanced.”

My parents also told me that as much as I wanted to be involved, I also should enjoy the last moments of high school that I have. I should treasure the memories with my closest friends and instead of being busy all the time, I should give myself time to reflect and enjoy.

Balance isn’t strictly for seniors. All students should try to find balance in their lives. Having time for academics, as well as a time for friends, sports, and other extra-curricular activities is important. And, most importantly, don’t forget to schedule some “down time.” 

Many people just don’t know how to be balanced. Setting a time frame for each of these aspects of your life, planning your week out each Sunday, and having reminders on your phone are just some of the tactics that help me to stay balanced.

Being balanced helps keep stress out and allows for the enjoyment of activities and the chance to make memories.

Afton Guedea

 

 

 

 

Categories
College Readiness

A Shout Out to Freshmen

By Heather Dondis
Lakehill Preparatory School, Director of College Counseling

At Lakehill, we are proud to include freshmen in our college counseling programming. This week the Head of Upper School, Director of College Counseling, and Freshman Class Sponsors spoke with the freshman and their parents about high school success.

It is critical for freshmen to start building a strong foundation in their academics and study habits.  We encourage our students to be independent learners, take ownership of their studies, challenge themselves within reason, be good planners, get involved in their school and community, and maintain a healthy balance between school, activities, and responsibilities at home.  It is important for teachers, parents, and older students to model this too.  We encourage our freshmen to research jobs and careers. We also want them to learn about colleges by attending presentations on campus and throughout the city and by meeting with college admissions officers.

By developing these good habits early in their high school careers, students will be more than prepared to gain admission and be successful in the college of their choice.

Categories
Learning and Leading

War Games

By Jamie Thorne
Social Studies Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School 

I recently tried a new project in my Modern American History class.  A previous colleague shared this project with me a few years ago, and to be honest, I hadn’t thought of it again until this year.  The project, to create a game based on the events of World War Two, always made me skeptical.  I couldn’t help thinking…

How could the students create a content-driven game?

Wouldn’t this just be a waste of precious class time?

Then along came my current group of freshmen.  I’d call them a large group of history buffs, specifically history buffs obsessed with war.  I thought, if any group can make such a game, this group could do it.  Boy was I in for a surprise!  I created a detailed rubric to ensure that they were incorporating “history” into their game and then I turned them loose.  I looked on skeptically as the students brought in game boards and game pieces.  When it came time to build their games, I naturally saw students turning games pieces into little likenesses of Hitler and Stalin.  Not surprised.  But then I started hearing conversations about key battles, Allied offensive strategies, the order with which we “island hopped” our way across the Pacific and so on.  I finally thought, this is working!  They were having fun AND delving into certain topics in a much deeper and more meaningful way.  I decided that we would play these games the day before our test over World War Two as a review.  As I wandered around the room, I overheard students answering questions correctly.  Great.  I also overheard comments like “Oh I can’t remember that.  I better highlight that in my notes so I make sure to really study it.”  Even better.

I love being pleasantly surprised and I especially enjoy watching my students have loads of fun while learning.